Timer and dice word games

ABSTRACT

A game for at least two players is disclosed. The game includes a plurality of playing pieces, wherein at least some of the playing pieces include at least one of a letter indicium and a number indicium; a letter die having a plurality of sides, wherein at least some sides have a letter indicium; a bonus die having a plurality of sides, wherein at least some sides have at least one of a bonus factor indicium and an additional action indicium; and a timer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/548,218 entitled “Timer and Dice Word Games,” filed Feb. 27, 2004, the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to word games, and particularly to word games where play is regulated by a timer and/or one or more die.

Examples of games with timers and/or one or more die are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,257,601; 4,266,774; 4,300,763; 4,349,197; 4,807,878; 5,649,704; 5,921,864; 6,168,439; 6,273,423; 6,290,230; 6,508,469; and French Patent FR 2 569 123, the entire disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference for all purposes.

SUMMARY

One embodiment provides a game for at least two players. The game includes a plurality of playing pieces, wherein at least some of the playing pieces include at least one of a letter indicium and a number indicium; a letter die having a plurality of sides, wherein at least some sides have a letter indicium; a bonus die having a plurality of sides, wherein at least some sides have at least one of a bonus factor indicium and an additional action indicium; and a timer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a playing area for a game.

FIG. 2 shows a plurality of playing pieces for the game of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a first die for the game of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a second die for the game of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a timing device for the game of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a partial view of the timing device of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart describing a method of play of the game of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a game for at least two players is shown and may include a playing area 12, a plurality of playing pieces 14, a first die 16, a second die 18, and a timing device 20. The playing area may include any suitable structure to receive at least some of the playing pieces. For example, playing area 12 may be in the form of a game board 22, as shown in FIG. 1. Although playing area 12 is shown to be in the form of game board 22, the playing area may include any suitable structure configured to receive at least some of the playing pieces, such as mats, restaurant menus, sculptures of suitable items, etc. Alternatively, the playing area may simply be any surface, such as a desk or a floor.

The playing area may include a plurality of playing piece receiving spaces 24, which may include any suitable spaces configured to receive at least one of playing pieces 18. The playing piece receiving spaces may include, for example, a plurality of squares 26. Each of the playing piece receiving spaces may be sized to receive one or more of playing pieces 18. The playing piece receiving spaces also may be distributed along playing area 12 in any suitable fashion. For example, the playing piece receiving spaces may be distributed across at least a substantial portion of the playing area in a crossword fashion, as shown in FIG. 1.

Although the playing piece receiving spaces is shown to be in the form of squares 26, those spaces may be any suitable shape or form, including rectangles, triangles, circles, and/or any suitable combination. Additionally, although each of the playing piece receiving spaces is shown to be sized to fit one of the playing pieces, those spaces may be sized for any suitable number of the playing pieces, including two pieces, three pieces, four pieces, etc. Furthermore, although the playing piece receiving spaces are shown in FIG. 1 to be distributed across a substantial portion of the playing area in a crossword fashion, those spaces may be distributed in any patterned and/or random way across any suitable portion of the playing area.

At least some of the playing piece receiving spaces may include one or more indicia 28. That indicia may include any suitable type of indicia configured to designate particular spaces and/or convey any suitable information to the players. For example, indicia 28 may include one or more bonus indicia 30 and one or more second die indicia 32. The bonus indicia may be in any suitable form, such as text, alphanumeric, symbolic, color, and/or any suitable combination, configured to convey to a player that he or she may increase, maintain, or decrease the total score from forming a word using the playing pieces. For example, bonus indicia 30 may be in text form and may include “Double Letter,” “Triple Letter,” “Double Word,” “Triple Word,” and/or any suitable combination, as shown in FIG. 1.

The bonus indicia may be used or followed in any suitable scenario, such as when at least one of the playing pieces used to form a word on the playing area is placed on at least one playing piece receiving space with a bonus indicium. Although bonus indicia 30 are shown to be in the form of text, the bonus indicia may be in any suitable form, including alphanumeric, symbolic, color, and/or any suitable combination. Additionally, although particular bonus indicia 30 is shown in FIG. 1, any suitable bonus indicia may be used configured to convey to a player that he or she may increase, maintain, or decrease the total score from forming a word using the playing pieces.

The second die indicia 32 may be in any form, such as text, alphanumeric, symbolic, color, and/or any suitable combination, configured to convey to a player to roll and/or follow second die 16. For example, second die indicia 32 may be in the form of one or more die symbols 34. Although second die indicia 32 is shown to be in the form of die symbol 34, the second die indicia may be in any form, including text, alphanumeric, other symbolic forms, color, and/or any suitable combinations.

Playing pieces 14 may include any suitable structure. For example, playing pieces 14 may be in the form of a plurality of tiles 36, as shown in FIG. 2. The playing pieces also may be any suitable size and/or shape configured to allow players of the game to grasp the playing piece and position that piece on a selected playing piece receiving space. Additionally, the playing pieces may be any suitable number to represent any suitable language, such as 100-120 playing pieces. Moreover, playing pieces 14 may have gripping features (not shown) to improve contact with a player's fingers. Those gripping features may include grooves, ridges, undulations, and/or rough portions, among others, or any suitable combination to promote handling.

Although the playing pieces are shown to be in the form of square tiles, those pieces may be any suitable shape or form, including rectangles, triangles, circles, and/or any suitable combination. Additionally, although the playing pieces are shown to be in the form of the a plurality of tiles, those pieces may be any suitable structure configured to be grasped by a player and to be received in one or more of playing piece receiving spaces 24, such as cards, tokens, chips, and/or any suitable combination.

At least some of the playing pieces may include one or more indicia 38. That indicia may include any suitable type of indicia configured to provide a player the ability to form words from one or more of the playing pieces. For example, indicia 38 may include one or more letter indicia 40 and/or one or more number indicia 42. The letter indicia may include one or more letters 44 from any suitable language, such as English, French, or German configured to provide a player the ability to form words from one or more of the playing pieces. Number indicia 42 may include one or more numbers 48 configured to associate the number of points with specific letters.

Additionally, the playing pieces may have any suitable combination of letter indicia 40. For example, several of the playing pieces may have letter indicia with the more common letters of the particular language and/or few of the playing pieces may have letter indicia with the less common letters of that language. At least some of the playing pieces may, however, not include any indicia 38, such as one or more blank tiles 46, which may be used during game play to represent one or more playing pieces with indicia 38. For example, the blank tiles may represent any letter during game play.

First die 16 includes any suitable structure with multiple sides and configured to be rolled by a player. For example, first die 16 may be in the form of a letter die 48, as shown in FIG. 3. The first die may be any suitable shape or size configured to allow a player to grasp and roll the die. Additionally, first die 16 may have any suitable number of sides 50, such as twenty sides. Although the first die shown in FIG. 3 includes twenty sides, that die may include more or less sides.

At least some of the sides of the first die may include one or more indicia 52. That indicia may include any suitable type of indicia configured to provide a player the ability to determine what playing piece must be used. For example, indicia 52 may include one or more letter indicia 54, which may correspond or relate to at least some of the letter indicia 40 of playing pieces 14.

Additionally, the sides of the first die may have any suitable combination of one or more letter indicia 54. For example, several sides of the die may have more common letter indicia and/or fewer sides of the die may have less common letter indicia. Although the first die may have one or more letter indicia 54 on each of its sides 50, some of the sides may lack the letter indicia.

Second die 18 includes any suitable structure with multiple sides and configured to be rolled by a player. For example, second die 18 may be in the form of a bonus die 54, as shown in FIG. 4. The second die may be any suitable shape or size configured to allow a player to grasp and/or to roll the die. Additionally, second die 18 may have any suitable number of sides 56, such as six sides. Although the second die shown in FIG. 4 includes six sides, that die may include more or less sides.

At least some of the sides of the second die may include one or more indicia 58. That indicia may include any suitable type of indicia configured to convey any suitable information to the player. For example, indicia 58 may include one or more bonus factor indicia 60 and/or one or more additional action indicia 62. The bonus factor indicia may be in any suitable form, such as text, alphanumeric, symbolic, and/or any suitable combination, configured to convey to a player that he or she may increase, maintain, or decrease the total score from forming a word using the playing pieces. For example, bonus factor indicia 60 may be in text form and may include “Double Any 1 Tile Value,” “Triple Any 1 Tile Value,” and/or any suitable combination, as shown in FIG. 4.

The bonus factor indicia may be used or followed in any suitable scenario, such as when at least one of the playing pieces used to form a word on the playing area is placed on at least one playing piece receiving space with a second die indicium and the rolled side of the second die include a bonus factor indicium. Although bonus factor indicia 60 are shown to be in the form of text, the bonus factor indicia may be in any suitable form, including alphanumeric, symbolic, color, and/or any suitable combination. Additionally, although particular bonus factor indicia 60 is shown in FIG. 4, any suitable bonus indicia may be used configured to convey to a player that he or she may increase, maintain, or decrease the total score from forming a word using the playing pieces, such as when one or more of those pieces are placed on a playing piece receiving space with a second die indicium.

The additional action indicia 62 may be in any form, such as text, alphanumeric, symbolic, color, and/or any suitable combination, configured to require a player to perform one or more additional actions that reduce the time to form a word, provide an additional play, not require rolling the first die during the player's next turn, etc. For example, additional action indicia 32 may be in text form and include “Next Player Start At Red” at 33, “Next Player Start At Blue,” “No Word Die Next Turn,” “Play Again” at 35, and/or any suitable combination.

Although additional action indicia 62 is shown to be in text form, the additional action indicia may be in any form, including alphanumeric, symbolic, color, and/or any suitable combination. Additionally, although the second die may have indicia 58 on each of its sides 56, some of the sides may lack any indicia.

Timing device 20 may include any suitable structure configured to limit the amount of time a player has to form a word using the playing pieces, to provide scoring adjustment based on how quickly a player forms a word, and/or to contain the playing pieces. For example, the timing device may be in the form of a timer 64, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The timing device may include a receptacle portion 66 and a timing portion 68.

The receptacle portion may include any structure configured to contain playing pieces 14 and to allow a player to sort through those pieces to find a particular letter indicia. For example, receptacle portion 66 may be in the form of a tray 70, which may be sized to contain the playing pieces and to allow a player to sort through those pieces. Although receptacle portion 66 is shown to have a generally rectangular shape with a circular cutout for the timing portion, the receptacle portion may have any suitable shape and/or size configured to contain the playing pieces and to allow a player to sort through those pieces, such as square, triangular, circular, etc.

Timing portion 68 may include any structure configured to limit the amount of time a player has to form a word using the playing pieces and/or to provide scoring adjustment based on how quickly a player forms a word. For example, the timing portion may include a marked face 72 having a plurality of sections 74, a pointer 76, an actuator 78, and a winding mechanism 79, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

The sections of marked face 72 may include one or more indicia 80. That indicia may include any suitable type of indicia configured to convey any suitable information to the player. For example, indicia 80 may include one or more score adjustment indicia 82 and one or more starting point indicia 84. The score adjustment indicia may be in any suitable form, such as text, alphanumeric, symbolic, color, and/or any suitable combination, configured to convey to a player that he or she may increase, maintain, or decrease the total score. For example, score adjustment indicia 82 may be in alphanumeric form and may include “4×,” “3×,” “2×,” “Face Value,” “−1,” and “−5,” as shown in FIG. 4.

Although score adjustment indicia 82 is shown to be either in alphanumeric or text form, that indicia may be in any suitable form, including symbolic, color, and/or any suitable combination. Additionally, although particular score adjustment indicia 82 is shown in FIG. 6, any suitable bonus indicia may be used configured to convey to a player that he or she may increase, maintain, or decrease the total score.

Starting point indicia 84 may be in any form, such as text, alphanumeric, symbolic, color, and/or any suitable combination, configured to correspond or relate to at least some of the additional action indicia 62 of second die 18. For example, starting point indicia 84 may be in the form of one or more color indicia 86, such as blue 88 (symbolically represented as horizontal lines in FIG. 6) and red 90 (symbolically represented as vertical lines in FIG. 6). The color indicia may correspond to at least some of the additional action indicia 62 of second die 18. For example, the action indicia “Next Player Start At Red” at 31 in FIG. 4 may require a player to start timing device 20 with the pointer pointing at red 90 in FIG. 6.

Although starting point indicia 84 is shown to be in color form, the starting point indicia may be in any form, including text, alphanumeric, symbolic, and/or any suitable combination. Additionally, although only two of sections 74 include a starting point indicium in FIG. 6, more or less of the sections may include starting point indicium.

Pointer 76 may include any structure configured to point to one of sections 74 and to move among or around the sections when timing device 20 is actuated. The pointer may move among the sections in any suitable direction, such as counter-clockwise or clockwise. Additionally, the pointer may be configured to initially point to the section of the marked face with the highest or most positive score adjustment indicia and then move to sections with successively lower score adjustment indicia as time elapses until the section with the lowest or most negative score adjustment indicia is indicated.

Although pointer 76 is shown to have a particular shape and size, the pointer may be any suitable shape and/or size configured to point to one of sections 74 and to move among the sections when the timer is actuated. Additionally, although pointer 76 is shown to move about a rotational axis along the marked face, the pointer may move along any suitable direction or about any suitable axis.

Actuator 78 may include any suitable structure configured to start and/or stop timing device 20. For example, actuator 78 may be incorporated or housed within pointer 76, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, such that a player may actuate the timer by manipulating the pointer. The pointer may be configured to be manipulated in any suitable way to actuate the timing device, including one or more of pushing, pulling, rotating, etc. Although actuator 78 is shown to be housed within pointer 76, the actuator may be located in any suitable location of timing device 20 and may have any suitable structure. For example, actuator 78 may be in the form of push buttons, cords, levers, or any other suitable actuators located by or in the receptacle portion or the timing portion of timing device 20. Additionally, although only one actuator is disclosed, any number of actuators may be included with timing device 20. For example, a start actuator and a separate stop actuator may be included in any suitable location of the timing device.

Winding mechanism 79 may include any suitable structure configured to wind timing device 20. For example, the winding mechanism may be incorporated or housed within pointer 76, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, such that a player may wind timing device 20 by manipulating pointer 76 to the appropriate starting point. The pointer may be configured to be manipulated in any suitable way to wind the timing device, including one or more of rotating, pulling, pushing, etc. Although winding mechanism 79 is shown to be housed within pointer 76, the actuator may located in any suitable location of timing device 20. For example, winding mechanism 79 may be located by or in the receptacle portion or the timing portion of timing device 20. Additionally, although timing device 20 is shown to include a manual winding mechanism, the timing device may an automatic winding mechanism or may have no winding mechanism at all.

The timing device may include additional suitable structure to facilitate the playing of the game. For example, the timing device may include buzzers, lights, etc. to provide feedback to the players. Although timing device 20 is shown to be in the form of timer 64, the timing device may be in any suitable form and include any suitable structure configured to limit the amount of time a player has to form a word using the playing pieces, to provide scoring adjustment based on how quickly a player forms a word, and/or to contain the playing pieces.

Play of the game will be further described with reference to FIG. 7. A method of playing the game is indicated generally at 200. A player begins his or her turn at 202. That player rolls the letter die at 204, and determines if a playing piece with the rolled letter (required playing piece) is available at 206. If the playing piece with the rolled letter is not available at 208, then the player re-rolls the letter die at 210, and determines if a playing piece with the rolled letter is available at 212.

If the playing piece with the rolled letter still is not available at 214, then the player re-rolls the letter die at 216, and determines if a playing piece with the rolled letter is available at 218. If the playing piece with the rolled letter still is not available at 220, then the player's turn ends at 222. If the playing piece with the rolled letter is available at 224, 226, or 228, then the player rolls the bonus die at 230. The method may include a step where one or more opponents identify the rolled letter before the player starts the timer. Although method 200 includes rolling the letter die three times before a player may lose his or her turn, the method may include any suitable number of rolling the letter die, such as one, two, four, etc., before a player may lose his or her turn.

The player then starts the timer at 232 at the appropriate starting point, which may vary depending on additional action indicia on some of the sides of the bonus die. The timer may have to be winded or reset before starting it. The player then forms a word on the game board using the required playing piece at 234. The word is to be built off or formed from previously created words, except for the first word on the game board. The blank tiles may be used in place of any letter. The player or one of the other players then stops the timer at 236.

The total score is calculated at 238. Calculating the total score may be based at least in part on the indicia of several components of the game. For example, the total score may be based at least in part on number indicia on some or all of the playing pieces used in forming a word. The total score also may be based at least in part on bonus factor indicia on the bonus die, when the rolled side of the bonus die includes a bonus factor indicium. Additionally, the total score may be based at least in part on bonus indicia on the game board, when at least one of the playing pieces used to form a word on the game board is placed on a playing piece receiving space that includes a bonus indicium.

Moreover, the total score may be based at least in part on the scoring adjustment indicium of the section of the marked face that the pointer is pointing to. Although particular bases of calculating the total score is discussed, method 200 includes all other suitable bases of calculating the total score, which may include all, some, or none of the bases described above.

After calculating the total score, the player determines if the bonus die shows “Play Again” indicia or other indicia indicating that the player gets to repeat the process at 240. If the bonus die shows “Play Again” at 242, then the player repeats the above method. If the bonus die does not show “Play Again” at 244, then the player's turn ends at 222.

Players take turns going through method 200 and the goal is to play successive rounds until any suitable stopping point. For example, the game may be played until all playing pieces have been placed on the game board. Additionally, the game may be played until there is an insufficient number of available playing piece receiving spaces on the game board. Moreover, the game may be played until each player has rolled the letter die at least three times, and each time the required playing piece that must be placed on the game board is unavailable. At the stopping point, the player with the highest cumulative total score wins the game. Although particular stopping points have been discussed, method 200 includes all suitable stopping points for the game, which may include all, some, or none of the stopping points discussed above.

Method 200 also may include one or more incorrect play steps that require restarting the timer and forming another word. For example, one or more of the player's opponents may call an incorrect play because of creating words that do not exist, misspelling words, and/or not fitting the playing pieces on the available playing piece receiving spaces of the game board. The incorrect play steps also may include requiring that opponents challenge the formed word at any time before the player records the final score. Additionally, the incorrect play steps may include requiring the players to agree on one or more dictionaries to be used for challenging words prior to starting the game.

Additionally, method 200 may include any suitable preparation steps before beginning the game. For example, all the playing pieces may be placed in the receptacle portion of the timer with those playing pieces arranged such that the letter indicia and the number indicia of the playing pieces with such indicia are at least partially visible to the players. However, the steps discussed above may be performed in different sequences and in different combinations, not all steps being required for all embodiments of the game.

The game also may include a set of instructions or rules and/or an inventory of contents. An example of instructions, rules, and inventory that might be used for the game is provided below. Although a specific example is provided, the game may include a set of any suitable instructions, rules and/or inventory, including any suitable combination of the instructions, rules, and inventory already discussed above.

Product Description

-   -   This product plays traditional Scrabble in a community game play         setting with the use of a timer.         -   The dice used lets the player know what letter the word must             include.             Contents     -   14″×14″ Bi Fold Game Board     -   6-Sided Bonus Die     -   20-Sided Letter Die     -   Mechanical Timer/Tile Tray     -   Word Tiles     -   Instructions         Object of the Game     -   To score as many points possible by including the letter shown         on the 20-sided die before the time is up.         -   Making words using tiles in a crossword fashion on a grid             board.         -   Words containing high value letters placed on high scoring             squares and created in the shortest amount of time score the             highest score.             Scoring     -   This game is played with Traditional Scrabble Scoring with a         twist.         -   Scores are modified by the length of time needed to complete             the word: The longer you take, the less your points scored.         -   The faster you are the higher your points.             Timer/Tray     -   The timer is wound up at the start of play.     -   When an opponent identifies the letter rolled, they start the         timer.     -   When the Player completes the word, they stop the timer.     -   Any player or opponent that starts or stops the timer before the         letter is identified, or before the word is completed, forfeits         their next turn.     -   Players press the pointer to start the timer, and the timer         mechanically counts down.     -   There are 6 scoring sections as follows:         -   4× the word score         -   3× the word score         -   2× the word score         -   Face Value         -   −1 points         -   −5 points     -   The timer/tray is designed to hold up to 120 tiles to         accommodate all languages.         Set Up     -   All tiles are displayed face-up in the timer/tray.         Playing the Game:     -   Players wind up the timer, and roll both dice.     -   The 20-sided die determines the letter that must appear in the         word to be created. (Players must draw from the tile tray and         not play off an existing letter already on the board to fulfill         the letter rolled.)     -   Words are to built off of previously created words in         traditional Scrabble fashion.     -   Players or teams take turns spelling one word at a time.     -   If a letter is unavailable when rolled with the 20-sided die,         the player must roll both dice again.     -   If a letter is rolled 3 times and is still unavailable, the turn         is passed to the next player or team.     -   Blanks may be used in place of any letter.     -   Players are limited only by the size of the board for length of         words created.         Bonus Die     -   Players building a word across the BONUS space, roll the Bonus         Die at the end of their play.     -   The Bonus Die allows players to:         -   Triple Any 1 Tile Value         -   Double Any 1 Tile Value         -   Next Player Start at Blue (starts timer at less time)         -   Next Player Start at Red (starts timer at less time)         -   No Word Die Next Turn         -   Play Again     -   6-sided die—Approximate size 1″×1″×1″     -   20-sided die—Approximate size 1″×1″×1″     -   Tile dimensions—0.75″×0.75″×0.25″         Common Letters for 20-Sided Die     -   English French German         -   R         -   J         -   T         -   C         -   K         -   I         -   B         -   O         -   E         -   A         -   F         -   W         -   S         -   M         -   H         -   G         -   P         -   L         -   D         -   Y             Incorrect Plays     -   If a player makes an incorrect play such as words that don't         exist, words that are misspelled, or words that don't fit.     -   Opponents may re-start the timer and tell the player their word         is incorrect.     -   Words that don't exist may be challenged at any time prior to         recording the score.         -   Players must agree on which dictionary to be used for             challenged words prior to starting the game.             Ending the Game     -   The game ends when:         -   All players or teams have consecutively rolled 3 times and             the letters rolled are unavailable         -   There are no more tiles left         -   There is no available space to create a word on the board.             Winning     -   The player or team with the highest score wins.

Although games and features of those games have been shown and described with reference to the foregoing operational principles and preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will find apparent that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims. The present disclosure is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variances that fall within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A game for at least two players, comprising: a plurality of playing pieces, wherein at least some of the playing pieces include at least one of a letter indicium and a number indicium; a letter die having a plurality of sides, wherein at least some sides have a letter indicium; a bonus die having a plurality of sides, wherein at least some sides have at least one of a bonus factor indicium and an additional action indicium; and a timer.
 2. The game of claim 1, further comprising a game board having a plurality of playing piece receiving spaces.
 3. The game of claim 2, wherein at least some of the playing piece receiving spaces include at least one of a bonus indicium and a bonus die indicium.
 4. The game of claim 1, wherein the letter die has at least twenty sides.
 5. The game of claim 1, wherein the timer includes a receptacle portion sized to contain the playing pieces.
 6. The game of claim 1, wherein the timer includes a pointer and a marked face having a plurality of sections, wherein the pointer is configured to point to one of the sections and to move among the sections when the timer is actuated, and wherein at least some of the sections include a score adjustment indicium.
 7. The game of claim 6, wherein at least one of the sections of the marked face includes a starting point indicium.
 8. The game of claim 7, wherein at least one of the additional action indicium of the bonus die requires starting the timer with the pointer pointing at a section of the marked face with a particular starting point indicium.
 9. The game of claim 6, wherein the timer includes an actuator configured to start the timer.
 10. The game of claim 9, wherein the actuator is configured to stop the timer.
 11. The game of claim 10, wherein the actuator is housed within the pointer such that a user may start and stop the timer by manipulating the pointer.
 12. The game of claim 11, wherein the user may start and stop the timer by pushing the pointer.
 13. The game of claim 1, further comprising a set of rules, wherein the set of rules provides that a round of game play includes one or more of: rolling the letter die to determine a required playing piece; rolling the bonus die; starting the timer; forming a word using the required playing piece; stopping the timer; and calculating a total score based at least in part on at least one of number indicia on at least some of the playing pieces used to form the word, and a score adjustment indicium on the section of the marked face that the pointer is pointing to when the timer is stopped.
 14. The game of claim 13, further comprising a game board having a plurality of playing piece receiving spaces, wherein the set of rules further provides for calculating a total score based at least in part on at least one bonus indicium when at least one of the playing pieces used to form the word on the game board is placed on at least one playing piece receiving space having at least one of the bonus indicium.
 15. The game of claim 14, wherein the set of rules further provides for following the bonus die when at least one of the playing pieces used to form the word on the game board is placed on at least one playing piece receiving space having a bonus die space indicium.
 16. The game of claim 13, wherein the set of rules further provides for calculating the total score based at least in part on a bonus factor indicium on a rolled side of the bonus die.
 17. The game of claim 14, wherein the set of rules further provides that a goal of the game is to play successive rounds until at least one of all of the playing pieces have been placed on the game board, an insufficient number of available playing piece receiving spaces is on the game board to form a word with the required playing piece, and all players have rolled the letter die and each time the required playing piece that must be placed on the game board is unavailable.
 18. The game of claim 13, wherein the set of rules further provides for, prior to game play, placing the playing pieces in a receptacle portion of the timer, and arranging the playing pieces such that the letter indicium and the number indicium of each of the playing pieces with such indicia are visible to the players.
 19. A game for at least two players, comprising: a plurality of playing pieces, wherein at least some of the playing pieces include a letter indicium and a number indicium; a game board having a plurality of playing piece receiving spaces, wherein at least some of the spaces include at least one of a bonus indicium and a bonus die indicium; a letter die having at least twenty sides, wherein at least some of the sides have a letter indicium; a bonus die having a plurality of sides; wherein at least some of the sides have at least one of a bonus factor indicium and an additional action indicium; and a timer having a tray sized to contain the playing pieces, wherein the timer includes a pointer and a marked face having a plurality of sections, wherein the pointer is configured to point to one of the sections and to move around the sections when the timer is actuated, and wherein at least some of the sections include at least one of a score adjustment indicium and a starting point indicium.
 20. The game of claim 19, wherein the timer includes an actuator configured to start and stop the timer, wherein the actuator is housed within the pointer such that a user may start and stop the timer by pushing the pointer.
 21. The game of claim 19, wherein at least one of the additional action indicium of the bonus die requires starting the timer with the pointer pointing at a section of the marked face with a particular starting point indicium.
 22. The game of claim 19, further comprising a set of rules, wherein the set of rules provides that a round of game play includes one or more of: rolling the letter die to determine a required playing piece that must be placed on the game board; rolling the bonus die; starting the timer; forming a word on the game board using the required playing piece; stopping the timer; following the bonus die when at least one of the playing pieces used to form the word on the game board is placed on a playing piece receiving space having a bonus die indicium; and calculating a total score based on at least one of number indicia on at least some of the playing pieces used to form the word, a bonus factor indicium on a rolled side of the bonus die, at least one bonus indicium when one or more of the playing pieces used to form the word on the game board is placed on at least one playing piece receiving space having a bonus indicium, and a score adjustment indicium on the section of the marked face of that the pointer is pointing to when the timer is stopped.
 23. The game of claim 22, wherein the set of rules further provides that a goal of the game is to play successive rounds until at least one of all of the playing pieces have been placed on the game board, an insufficient number of available playing piece receiving spaces is on the game board to form a word with the required playing piece, and all players have rolled the letter die and each time the required playing piece that must be placed on the game board is unavailable.
 24. A method of playing a game for at least two players, wherein the game includes a game board having a plurality of playing piece receiving spaces and a plurality of playing pieces, comprising: rolling a letter die to determine a required playing piece that must be placed on the game board; rolling a bonus die; starting a timer; forming a word on the game board using the required playing piece; stopping the timer; and calculating a total score.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein calculating a total score is based at least in part on number indicia on at least some of the playing pieces used in forming the word on the game board.
 26. The method of claim 24, wherein calculating a total score is based at least in part on a bonus factor indicium on a rolled side of the bonus die.
 27. The method of claim 24, wherein calculating a total score is based at least in part on at least one bonus indicium when at least one of the playing pieces used to form the word on the game board is placed on at least one playing piece receiving space having the bonus indicium.
 28. The method of claim 24, wherein the timer includes a pointer and a marked face having a plurality of sections, wherein the pointer is configured to point to one of the sections and to move around the sections when the timer is actuated, wherein at least some of the sections include a score adjustment indicium, and wherein calculating a total score is based at least in part on the score adjustment indicium of the section of the marked face that the pointer is pointing to when the timer is stopped. 